Spindle assembly for sheet product dispensers

An assembly for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser, the assembly comprising:

• a mandrel configured to be positioned within a housing of the sheet product dispenser, wherein the mandrel defines a body with a first end and a second end;
• and
• a spindle for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to the sheet product dispenser, the spindle comprising:
• a spindle body configured to be positioned over the mandrel, wherein the spindle body extends along a longitudinal axis of the spindle from a first end to a second end, wherein the spindle body is configured to be received at least partially within a central opening of the roll of sheet product;
• a first set of friction elements extending away from the first end of the spindle body in a first direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, wherein each friction element within the first set of friction elements is separated from an adjacent friction element by at least one slot and is configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the first end of the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel;
• and
• a second set of friction elements extending away from the second end of the spindle body in a second direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, wherein each friction element within the second set of friction elements is separated from an adjacent friction element by at least one slot and is configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the second end of the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel,
• wherein the contact force against the first end of the mandrel and the contact force against the second end of the mandrel are constant irrespective of whether the roll of sheet product is installed on the spindle.

A spindle for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser, the spindle comprising:

• a spindle body configured to be positioned over a mandrel, wherein the mandrel defines a body with a first end and a second end, wherein the spindle body extends along a longitudinal axis of the spindle from a first end to a second end, wherein the spindle body is configured to be received at least partially within a central opening of the roll of sheet product;
• a first set of friction elements extending away from the first end of the spindle body in a first direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, wherein each friction element within the first set of friction elements is separated from an adjacent friction element by at least one slot and configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the first end of the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel;
• and
• a second set of friction elements extending away from the second end of the spindle body in a second direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, wherein each friction element within the second set of friction elements is separated from an adjacent friction element by at least one slot and is configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the second end of the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel,
• wherein the contact force against the first end of the mandrel and the contact force against the second end of the mandrel are constant irrespective of whether the roll of sheet product is installed on the spindle.